Getting to Sesame Street? Fifty Years of Federal Compensatory Education

Abstract

“Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away, On my way to where the air is sweet, Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Sesame Street?” —Stone and Hart Theme Song, Sesame Street Education research primarily draws from the social science disciplines of psychology and sociology (and to some extent, economics). Each of these disciplines contributes much to our understanding of education in complex societies. This article argues for the inclusion of anthropological or cultural perspectives in understanding the policy known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. Rethinking culture might help policymakers be more aware of and challenged to include culture as an important construct to factor into decision-making when serving traditionally underserved communities.